Arts Centre Vooruit, Ghent, Belgium

PEKKO KÄPPI / UUMEN (Kimmo Pohjonen & Eric Echampard)
8 pm until 9.15 pm Theaterzaal

Pekko Käppi has quickly become a cult figure on the Finnish music scene. He knows how to charm the public with nothing but a jouhikko, a traditional Finnish violin made out of horsehair, and his characteristic voice. His debut album Jos ken pahoin uneksii, which was released earlier this year, showcases his affinity with free folk and psychedelic tunes.

Kimmo Pohjonen not only features on the Etoiles Polaires 07 bill with Marita Liula. For Uumen he works with French jazz drummer Eric Echampard. Pohjonen experiments with every genre possible and sees it as a challenge to embellish his music with traditional as well as modern, electronic sounds.

For his collaboration with Eric Echampard, Pohjonen upgrades his accordion to a soundmachine, which he takes into the 21st century effortlessly. The Finnish press even invented a new genre for Pohjonen’s music: Kimpovrisation. Echampard shares Pohjonen’s love for improvisation. For this show both musicians abandon the beaten path, thus showing off their diversity and talent.

KUUSUMUN PROFEETTA
9.30 Balzaal (doors 9 pm)

Finding bands that are comparable to Kuusmuun Profeetta isn’t all that easy. The band, which was previously called Moon Fog Prophet, makes sure they only sound like themselves. Their music is characterized by its original blend of jazz, folk, psychedelics and prog rock.

Kuusumun Profeetta recorded four English-language records before lead singer Ratto decided to sing his poetic lyrics in his native Finnish tongue. You can listen to the special result on last year’s Riemun ja Kurjuuden Sälekaihtimet. Kuusumun’s return to its roots proved to be a great move, making for a catchy mix of the melodic Finnish language and international influences.